Chemistry of Compound Lipids

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Questions and Answers

What effect do snake venom toxins have on red blood cells when injected into the bloodstream?

  • They increase the oxygen-carrying capacity of RBCs.
  • They convert phospholipids into lysophospholipids, leading to hemolysis. (correct)
  • They stimulate RBC production in the bone marrow.
  • They enhance the function of RBCs.

Which phospholipid is primarily responsible for forming the myelin sheath in the nervous system?

  • Phosphatidylinositol
  • Sphingomyelin (correct)
  • Phosphatidylserine
  • Phosphatidylcholine

What is one of the key roles of phospholipids in the human body?

  • They assist in the digestion and absorption of fats. (correct)
  • They serve solely as energy storage molecules.
  • They exclusively form structural components of cell walls.
  • They enhance bone mineral density.

Lung surfactant is essential for preventing respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants. What is the major component of this surfactant?

<p>Lecithin (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What structure do phospholipids form when dispersed in water due to their amphipathic nature?

<p>Micelles (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes lipids as organic compounds?

<p>They are esters of fatty acids or substances associated with them in nature. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a type of glycerophospholipid?

<p>Triglyceride (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about phospholipids is correct?

<p>Phospholipids can have different alcohol components in their structure. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the hydrolytic products of Phosphatidyl-Serine?

<p>One glycerol, two fatty acids, phosphate, and serine. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes derived lipids from simple and compound lipids?

<p>Derived lipids are hydrolysis products of simple and compound lipids. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Glycerophospholipids

A type of lipid composed of a glycerol backbone, two fatty acids, and a phosphate group, where the phosphate group is linked to another polar head group.

Phosphatidic acid

"Phosphatidic acid" is the simplest glycerophospholipid, formed by glycerol, two fatty acids, and a phosphate group. It's the precursor for other glycerophospholipids.

Phosphatidylcholine (Lecithin)

A type of glycerophospholipid containing choline as its head group. It's a major component of cell membranes and a source of choline.

Phospholipases (PLA1, PLA2, PLC, PLD)

Key enzymes that break down glycerophospholipids. Different phospholipases target specific bonds in the molecule, playing a role in cell signaling and membrane remodeling.

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Sphingophospholipids

A family of lipids composed of a sphingosine backbone, a fatty acid, and a phosphate head group. Sphingomyelin is found in brain tissue and myelin sheaths.

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What is Sphingomyelin?

A type of phospholipid found in cell membranes, particularly in the myelin sheath of the brain and lungs. Sphingomyelin contains sphingosine, a long-chain amino alcohol, and a fatty acid linked to sphingosine by an amide bond. When linked to phosphocholine, it forms sphingomyelin.

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What are Phospholipids?

A type of phospholipid that is a major component of cell membranes and is crucial for cell function and signaling.

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What is the effect of snake venom toxins on cell membranes?

A type of phospholipid that is present in snake venom and can cause hemolysis (red blood cell destruction) by converting phospholipids in cell membranes into lysophospholipids.

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What are Glycerophospholipids?

A group of phospholipids that are important for cell signaling and membrane structure. These include phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol, and lysophospholipids.

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What is Phosphatidic acid?

A type of phospholipid that is a precursor for many other phospholipids and is involved in cell signaling. It is composed of glycerol, phosphate, and two fatty acids.

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Study Notes

Chemistry of Compound Lipids

  • Compound lipids are esters of fatty acids and alcohols with additional prosthetic groups.
  • They are classified based on the type of prosthetic group.
  • Key types include phospholipids, glycolipids, and proteolipids.

Phospholipids

  • Phospholipids are a type of compound lipid.
  • They are formed from fatty acids, alcohol, and phosphate.
  • They are further classified based on the type of alcohol.
  • Glycerophospholipids have glycerol as the alcohol
  • Examples include phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, and phosphatidylinositol, and lysophospholipids.
  • Sphingophospholipids have sphingosine as the alcohol
  • A key example is sphingomyelin.

Phosphatidic Acid

  • Phosphatidic acid is the precursor for all phospholipids containing glycerol.
  • Hydrolysis yields glycerol, two fatty acids, and phosphate.

Phosphatidyl Serine

  • Phosphatidylserine contains a serine group.
  • Hydrolysis produces glycerol, two fatty acids, phosphate and serine

Phosphatidylcholine (Lecithin)

  • Phosphatidylcholine includes a choline group
  • Hydrolysis creates glycerol, two fatty acids, phosphate, and choline.

Phosphatidyl Ethanolamine (Cephalin)

  • Phosphatidylethanolamine contains an ethanolamine group.
  • Hydrolysis results in glycerol, two fatty acids, phosphate, and ethanolamine.

Phosphatidyl Inositol

  • Phosphatidylinositol includes an inositol group.
  • Hydrolysis forms glycerol, two fatty acids, phosphate, and inositol.

Hydrolysis of Glycerophospholipids

  • Glycerophospholipids are hydrolyzed by a set of enzymes called phospholipases.
  • Key phospholipases include PLA1, PLA2, PLC, and PLD.
  • Phospholipase D is found in plants, not humans.

Sphingomyelin

  • Sphingomyelin is found mainly in cell membranes of the lungs and brain, particularly in the myelin sheath.
  • It contains sphingosine (a 18-carbon amino alcohol), a fatty acid, and a phosphate group bonded to choline.

Importance and Functions of Phospholipids

  • Amphipathic molecules containing polar (attracted to water) and nonpolar (repelled by water) groups.
  • Form micelles (sphere-like structures) in water.
  • Important for fat digestion and absorption ("emulsifying factors")
  • Prevent cholesterol stone formation (biliary calculi)
  • Key constituents of cell membranes (lipid bilayer).
  • Important components of plasma lipoproteins
  • Provide arachidonic acid for eicosanoids (hormone-like substances) synthesis.
  • Essential for blood clotting factors – providing platelet activating factor (PAF). important
  • Contribute to lung surfactant (dipalmitoyl-lecithin), crucial for preventing respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants.

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